Tag Archive: garden

I am relatively new to homesteading, and I know that it will take years of feeling everything out before we can move in an instinctive way. I read books and consult forums and all of it, but it just doesn’t replace living it. I *have* been doing this long enough to know that much. Oftentimes, I’ll read or hear advice that I know is faulty or under-lived, or I’ll find out later that it wasn’t sound after implementing it. The internet/larger culture is just so full of folks who present expertise where it hasn’t been earned.

A recent view of my very experimental homestead.

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about the lost heritage of homesteading/homemaking. I frequently come into a situation and I will feel a tangible gap in knowledge, and I’ll just have to roll up my sleeves and remember that even my elder homesteaders had to just engage and figure it out.… Continue Reading...

My mom poked me yesterday about not posting much on here anymore. She said the gaps between entries are getting farther and farther apart, and I know she's right. I hate the idea of this place fading away for me, so I'm determined to get back into the habit. I am tempted to say that I don't have time to write like I used to, but I don't think that's entirely true. I know that while I may not have time to write as often as I'd like, I do have enough time to do more than I have been. I will continue to try.

Anyway, there is so much to share. I don't really want to dive into all the complicated stuff today- except to say that things have, in fact, been a bit complicated.… Continue Reading...

We’ve had some strange weather this spring. Oh who am I kidding? We live in Michigan. It’s strange every spring. But still. It’s not every spring that we have an on and off crazy storm in the afternoon with a big tree branch landing in the middle of the yard. I’m grateful, though. I’ve got so much going on everywhere else in the yard, that the branch landed in the exact spot that it should have landed (you know, assuming it must land somewhere…). Plus, it may actually give me enough wood to finish out the front yard’s borders. So… thanks Universe!

Wanna know what 10 minutes of eerie quiet from two rambunctious little girls produces? Yes? Dry cement all over the floor! This picture does not do it justice. If I had left them any longer I’m sure they would have found some water to mix it with… they were "cooking" after all. Sometimes I don’t even know how to kid-proof this place. This came out of a very heavy box that I was sure couldn’t be lifted by them, up on a high shelf, out of packages of thick vacuum sealed plastic… um. Yeah. It’s a kit to make a stepping stone for your garden. I guess I’ll be doing that project in the next few days (with a bit less cement mix to work with)!… Continue Reading...

Lots going on, although the pace seems slower. It’s as it should be. It’s that strange first month with a new baby, where you’re tired but you’ve just been sitting and nursing all day (which I know, it IS doing something and using energy, but it’s just a different activity and I don’t process it the same way). Or I’m overstimulated and bored at the same time… it’s just weird. Today has been lovely though- snuggling with both my babies (actually, all three if you count Maya!), out to breakfast with just Asa and a dear friend, jamming to The Who at loud volumes on the drive (very therapeutic), home for a bit then out to a garage sale, then I actually got a bunch of stuff done around the house and did a big harvest in the garden.… Continue Reading...

Today my sweet sister came and took Vera out to a play group at the botanical gardens with Tuula. Then they’re going to this "sonic lunch" event downtown where local bands come and play for free. Vera was so excited to dance with her cousin. I packed her a little lunch and sent her off, and she was so excited. It’s made this morning really easy and quiet- life feels so good right now. I had a friend come over, Jeff’s been working on the greenhouse, I cleaned some, took pictures and relaxed in the sun with Asa (who’s still a teeny bit yellow, so he’s soaking up the rays). Now I’m able to sit down and snack and write a little… so nice!

It’s definitely a bit more of a juggling act with two, but it’s a way easier adjustment in so many ways.… Continue Reading...

No, no baby yet, although I do feel like it’s coming very soon… not due until Monday, although practically every phone call I’ve received today has started with a "So? What’s happening? Any baby?"… I’m fairly certain that this happens to practically every full-term pregnant woman, so I just roll my eyes and say "Yep! Forgot to tell you!" I should joke about how I birthed it hours ago while I was taking a bath and should probably go check on it… But then I smile because I know they are just as excited to meet this little one as we are. Except, you know, the eye roll is very necessary because I’m the one who has to push it out here! So I’m pretty sure I’ll let people know when I’ve gone ahead and done that… silly.… Continue Reading...

So I was planning on doing one sourdough thing a day last week, but things rarely go as planned around here… What I did do was fun! Also, today I’ll be making sourdough crackers again (delicious things!) but that won’t make it into this post.

I worked on really revitalizing my sourdough starter, but I don’t think it got that much more active than it always does. It’s never bubbling up like some people say theirs does, it just has some bubbles in it and smells healthy and yeasty. This stuff is tricky! So here’s what I did:

The sourdough pita, which was really just like flat bread/naan because it didn’t puff up well enough.

Sourdough cookies- I liked them a lot, but I’m definitely going to tweak the recipe some.… Continue Reading...

This past Friday we had plans to go to the beach with a friend. Both of us had stressful mornings right off the bat, and we were contemplating not going. Let me just say- when in doubt, always go to the beach. We’re definitely going every week until baby comes, then probably multiple times a week while Jeff’s off work. We all left there completely refreshed and relaxed. I knew then that if I had stayed home to get stuff done I wouldn’t have felt that good. And that’s kind of what it’s about these days. Plus, there’s so much to appreciate in little sandy toes and a happy little girl…

I wasn’t quite sure what to post about this week- the humidity and my big ol’ belly have left me doing the bare minimum, food-wise. That’s okay though, lots of salads and simple stuff. But yesterday, being in that funk, I felt inspired by the end of the day to get out of my own head. Back when the garden was just being conceptualized, I think it was my big sister who had the idea to put a giveaway basket on her fence to get rid of extra veggies rather than just compost them or push them on relatives. I thought it was a great idea, and so last night I made it happen. We’ve got more lettuce than we can possibly eat, and radishes are ready (but we can only eat/pickle so many of those), and there’s just more to come.… Continue Reading...